Idiomatic uses of Por and Para
We add the following idiomatic uses of Por and Para to what we said about these two prepositions in the section: The Prepositions
Por may translate "on behalf of," "for the sake of," "in favour of,"
"during," "through":
Habló por el proyecto de ley:
He spoke in favour of the bill.
He spoke in favour of the bill.
Se presentó por la casa:
He appeared on behalf of the firm.
He appeared on behalf of the firm.
Por la paz y buena armonía concedemos lo que V. pide:
For the sake of peace we allow what you ask.
For the sake of peace we allow what you ask.
Les sirvió por cinco años:
He served them during five years.
He served them during five years.
Trabaja por la mañana:
He works during (in) the morning.
He works during (in) the morning.
Vino por París:
He came through Paris.
He came through Paris.
Cotizar por un artículo:
To quote for an article.
To quote for an article.
Yo por mí (or por mi parte) prefiero comprar al contado:
I, for one, prefer to buy for cash.
I, for one, prefer to buy for cash.
Por[3] rico que sea, no tendrá suficientes recursos:
No matter how rich he is, he will not have sufficient means.
No matter how rich he is, he will not have sufficient means.
Es demasiado avaro por ser tan rico:
for such a rich man, he is too miserly.
for such a rich man, he is too miserly.
Caro por caro prefiero géneros ingleses:
If I have to pay a dear price, I prefer English goods.
If I have to pay a dear price, I prefer English goods.
Por sí ó por no:
In any case, should it be so or not.
In any case, should it be so or not.
Ir (venir) por:
To go (come) for.
To go (come) for.
Enviar por el médico:
To send for the doctor.
To send for the doctor.
Por holgazán perdió el empleo:
He lost his employment through laziness.
He lost his employment through laziness.
Por bién ó por mal:
Willy-nilly.
Willy-nilly.
Vendré por la Navidad:
I shall come by Christmas.
I shall come by Christmas.
Por si acaso:
In case that.
In case that.
Footnote 3: Por has always this meaning before an adjective or adverb.]
No sirve para más:
He is good for nothing else.
He is good for nothing else.
Venir para la Pentecostés:
To come for Whitsuntide.
To come for Whitsuntide.
Esto no es para menos:
The thing (or occasion) is worth it.
The thing (or occasion) is worth it.
Para español (or por ser español) es muy alto:
He is very tall for a Spaniard.
He is very tall for a Spaniard.
Tener grande consideración para este hombre:
To have great respect for this man.
To have great respect for this man.
Dar pedidos para ferretería, ollería, y maquinaría:
To give orders for ironware, hollow-ware and machinery.
To give orders for ironware, hollow-ware and machinery.
Es demasiado avaro para ser tan rico:
He is too miserly to be so rich.
He is too miserly to be so rich.